Evolutionary professor encourages critical thinking

An interesting opinion article appeared in an issue of Physics Today, entitled
Teaching and Propaganda.1
Motivated by the 1999 Kansas Board of Education decision and the outcry by scientists,
Mano Singham is a voice of reason within an irrational overreaction.

Although he makes it clear that he is not a closet creationist (a statement many
evolutions feel obligated to make—likely to avoid ridicule for daring to criticize
evolution), he goes on to cheer those students in his physics classes that have
been skeptical enough to question some of the doctrines being taught. He admits
that teaching is really brainwashing because the students trust the teacher,
the institution, and the school that granted the degree that allows one to teach.
He admits:

‘And I use that trust to effectively brainwash them. We who teach introductory
physics have to acknowledge, if we are honest with our selves, that our teaching
methods are primarily those of propaganda. We appeal—without demonstration—to
evidence that support our position. We only introduce arguments or evidence that
support the currently accepted theories, and omit or gloss over any evidence to
the contrary. We give short shrift to alternatives theories, introducing them only
in order to promptly demolish them—again by appealing to undemonstrated counter-evidence.’
2

Most professors prefer these ‘good’ trusting students. However, he is
bothered by this type of student, who seems to readily accept almost anything. The
danger is that these students can believe anything from some other ‘expert’
or ideologue, which can be dangerous. He marvels at their easy acceptance of relativity
and quantum mechanics upon first hearing, in spite of these concepts being so contrary
to everyday experience. Unfortunately, he also gives creationists dishonourable
mention as those ‘other propagandists’. Nevertheless, his point is well
taken, and he prefers the student who thinks for themself and weighs arguments,
even if that student is a creationist.

Most professors prefer these ‘good’ trusting students. However, he is
bothered by this type of student, who seems to readily accept almost anything.

However, Professor Singham justifies the brainwashing because of practical considerations,
such as ‘not enough time to develop all the arguments’, or that he wants
his students to be accepted as ‘modern’ people. He considers he has
the best of intentions for his students:

‘ …of course we do all this [brainwashing] with the best of intentions
and complete sincerity. I have good reasons for employing propaganda techniques
to achieve belief.’2

Obviously, he believes he is imparting truth to the students, which justifies the
means. I would not mind if he stuck only to observational physics, but when he applies
this same attitude to historical science, he is too trusting and lacks critical
thinking himself. But still, he prefers critical thinking students:

‘The best I can hope for is to enable my students to think critically, to
detect propaganda and reject intellectual coercion, even when I am the one doing
it.’3

I am grateful to Professor Singham for his candidness and for allowing dissent by
creationist students. I now look forward to the time when he can apply this critical
thinking to his own evolutionary assumptions and worldview.

References

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